For the moment my forward progress is halted until my batteries arrive from Hobby City. Once I have the batteries then I can test the CG and build the battery tray. The 4 x 6S 5800 mAh FlightMax batteries (30C) will weigh around 3350g (7.4 lbs) so the battery tray is going to need to be well anchored.

I was thinking that my Extra will likely be heavier than the equivalent equipped with a DA-100 which is OK for IMAC. I did some calculations.

It should be interesting to compare the actual finished weight against other gas models but as the moment it is looking like it is going to be about 2.5 lbs heavier. I could save almost a pound by using 25C 6S 5000 mAh batteries. but I want to make sure that I have enough battery for windy IMAC contests.

you could also add the weight of the motor box because it does need to be stronger than the electric, not to mention fuel proofing and any other regulators

The plywood motor box that I built was about 300g (10.5 oz). This was about the same weight as the bag of parts that comes with the plane to mount the DA-100. The Smart-Fly components and A123 batteries that I am using would be the same for a gas plane. Any other components required for gas are pretty light unless I am overlooking something.

The plywood motor box that I built was about 300g (10.5 oz). This was about the same weight as the bag of parts that comes with the plane to mount the DA-100. The Smart-Fly components and A123 batteries that I am using would be the same for a gas plane. Any other components required for gas are pretty light unless I am overlooking something.

I think he did. He had a 32oz fuel tank in the list weighing 32oz.
Close enough for quick weight comparisons.
remember 1 fluid oz of gasoline does not weigh 1 oz. So using 32oz as what the 32 fluid oz fuel tank weighs; There is a little extra room for the hardware that the tank is made from.
Rick

I think he did. He had a 32oz fuel tank in the list weighing 32oz.
Close enough for quick weight comparisons.
remember 1 fluid oz of gasoline does not weigh 1 oz. So using 32oz as what the 32 fluid oz fuel tank weighs; There is a little extra room for the hardware that the tank is made from.
Rick

Per Rick's note I did include the weight of gas.

I see a new thread has started on a conversion of a 40% Carden Cap. I find it very interesting as he is starting by removing the DA-150 and the rest of the gas components.

Geoff, any up dates on your project? Have you flown it yet? Final weight?

I am on hold waiting for batteries. They should arrive in the middle of the month.

On the weekend I lost a plane due to radio interference on 72 Mhz so I have been musing about moving to 2.4 Ghz. I already have the 2.4 module for my JR 9303 but I am thinking about the Hitec Aurora 9. The built in telemetry and other features of the Aurora make it pretty appealing. Also when I did the math to purchase all the required receivers that I would need it was cheaper to go with the Aurora.

I am on hold waiting for batteries. They should arrive in the middle of the month.

On the weekend I lost a plane due to radio interference on 72 Mhz so I have been musing about moving to 2.4 Ghz. I already have the 2.4 module for my JR 9303 but I am thinking about the Hitec Aurora 9. The built in telemetry and other features of the Aurora make it pretty appealing. Also when I did the math to purchase all the required receivers that I would need it was cheaper to go with the Aurora.

Anyone have any first hand experience with the Hitec Aurora?

If you get the Aurora let us know how it goes. It was my first but with the company delays i went for the dx7 instead. I dont mind the reciever prices as the Spektrum full range RX vs Hitec RX pices are like 15-20 dollars different plus the more wide variety.

I had just starting my 3rd flight when I noticed that the throttle did not respond after a stall turn. I got it back long enough to straighten it out but it then stopped responding again. I madly moved the sticks but I had no control until it hit the tree. When we reached the plane all controls were working. Post crash analysis showed no sign of any loose connections or an obvious cause. On further investigation the radio failsafe setup on my JR9303 radio was set to hold for the throttle. It should have been set to zero throttle. All other models were set correctly. The failsafe not being set correctly accounts for the fact that the plane carried on rather than powering down. I tested switching off the receiver switch and the speed controller did shut down the motor after a couple of seconds. This tells me that I had a radio failure instead of a power failure. For whatever reason the JR 9 channel PCM receiver went into failsafe.

I guess that I was on borrowed time on 72 Mhz as there are fields that I fly at that are moving towards 2.4 Ghz only. This is the first time in 5 years that I have lost a plane due to what is likely radio failure. All other incidences have been primarily pilot error and airframe issues.

Images

Ooow....nasty ! I lost my Eratix 3D on 36 due to a glitch.. So went with a new Futaba 10CAG 2.4 and must say, the stick response is like nothing else i have flown. Models that I found quite hard to hover down low I can now hold in a stable hover and all I have done is change Radios. I was using a very nice Futaba 7cap which I though was fantastic...untill I upgraded ! Like night n day..Only issue is, now I have to buy over 15 RXs for my models...EEekk !

Ooow....nasty ! I lost my Eratix 3D on 36 due to a glitch.. So went with a new Futaba 10CAG 2.4 and must say, the stick response is like nothing else i have flown. Models that I found quite hard to hover down low I can now hold in a stable hover and all I have done is change Radios. I was using a very nice Futaba 7cap which I though was fantastic...untill I upgraded ! Like night n day..Only issue is, now I have to buy over 15 RXs for my models...EEekk !

We all do but the radio companies have never sold so many receivers in there life with ever one going 2.4 ! Like Beta and VHS lol... Or VHS and DVD....or DVD and Blue Ray...and...ok we get the picture... !